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Could 2006 be the year when IP (Intellectual Property) finally takes off? When IP finally begins that upward curve from dream into common, everday embedded reality? No one knows for certain, but looking back over 2005, IP has certainly made steps to become more 'usable' especially at the juncture between IP and FPGAs.

At the embedded processor level, a range of vendors now compete with IP in some format or other. The most notable success, of course, is ARM, a company that has perfected the business model of licensable IP being translated by 'licensees' into usable silicon. Competitor MIPS has written a nice white paper, Choosing an Intellectual Property Core, which though written in 2002 is a good introduction to the field. And IBM is trying to recast the venerable PowerPC into an IP powerhouse by rebranding it into the Power.org consortium.

Of greater practicality for the embedded developer are the two FPGA giants, Xilinx and Altera, who have every incentive to make IP easy-to-use, since it will sell more FPGAs. Check out Xilinx's 'Embedded Processor Central' as well as Altera's Embedded Processor Solutions - both vendors have made major investments in their own unique processor cores (Xilinx, Microblaze™ and Altera, NiosII®).

Development tools? Coming to an IP vendor near you, soon. Altera, for example, makes it easy with their IP Megastore. There a developer can shop online for a variety of peripheral IP and use Altera's own SOPC builder tool. Synopsys is also making a major foray into IP (not just EDA tools) with its own DesignWare IP. Amongst recent news, don't miss Programmable PCI Express Solution Announced by Lattice Semiconductor, Genesys Logic and Northwest as an example of this trend, as well as CAST Steps up to Platform IP for ARM and AMBA Systems. The latter is a very interesting vendor in the IP space, since CAST is unique in focusing on 'established' (some would say 'old') IP such as the 8051 and recasting it as usable IP. This goes for IO as well. Ideal for the embedded market: useful, well-known, and inexpensive!

Finally, third party vendors are getting into the act by focusing their own development tool efforts not just on traditional processors but on the emerging markets of FPGA and IP. Most notable: Mentor Graphics, which is unique in the EDA space for having an entire 'Embedded Software Division.' In September, that division announced unique support for both Xilinx and Altera processors: here and here.

2005 was a 'year of maturity' on the web, at least for embedded systems design. Here are some of the better websites added during the year. First and foremost, if you are a practical designer, don't miss EDN's various 'directories' that they put out for microprocessors and DSP's. They are the DSP Directory, and the Microprocessor Directory. Sadly they have discontinued their FPGA directory. EDN along with most of the publications now sports Internet 'eLetters' - great if you are outside the USA, since most print publications won't send foreigners a subscription. Check out our full list of eLetters, here.

Among hot topics, almost nothing was hotter than 'AdvancedTCA. In addition, 'AdvancedMC' really began to take off, so check out the PICMG AdvancedMC Page. TCP/IP continued to be a requirement for most, if not all, applications, and we found a great 'guide' to the technology - The TCP/IP Guide. On the IP front, don't miss the IP Portal, and on the military front, the Association of Old Crows as well as the new Military Embedded Systems from our friends at Open Systems Publishing.

Micro portals were a hot trend in 2005. There were new military publications, as noted above, we found a great Telematics Journal site, and CMP went crazy with a series of new micro portals - Automotive, Audio, Digital TV, Industrial Control, and more. Just go to one of the links, and look on the far right for a full list. Unfortunately, most of the content is tired re-writes from their massive EE Times archive.

(conference, 5 stars) - 1/5/2006, Las Vegas

International CES - Consumer Electronics Show
The 2006 International CES is a four-day crash course in the consumer electronics industry's hottest technologies. Digital, wireless, interactive, broadband-you can try them, evaluate their potential and get a sneak peek at what's on the other side of the CE horizon. Think of it this way: In consumer electronics . . . everything that's coming is here!

(conference, 4 stars) - 1/10/2006, San Diego

West 2005 - Military & Technology Conference
West 2005 is the largest event on the West Coast for communications, electronics, intelligence, information systems, imaging, military weapon systems, aviation, shipbuilding, and more. This is a one-of-a-kind forum featuring the people you need to hear from, the products and services you need to do your job, and informed discussion of the critical issues of today and tomorrow!

(conference, 5 stars) - 1/16/2006, Long Beach

Bus and Board Conference
The Bus&Board Conference focuses on interconnect technologies including VMEbus, CompactPCI, PCI, PC104, fabrics, motherboards, and mezzanine cards for embedded applications. The agenda for Bus&Board - 2006 is now available.

(conference, 5 stars) - 2/6/2006, Santa Clara

DesignCon
DesignCon is the premier solutions-based Electronic Design Automation (EDA) and Semiconductor industry event held annually in Silicon Valley. The event features over 80 technical sessions covering hot product case studies, design methodologies and new product technologies. The technical exhibition consists of over 130 leading EDA tool providers, semiconductor manufacturers, system design houses and IP Providers.